McHenry County UDO vote delayed again

Proposed amendments, citizen concerns prompt move

WOODSTOCK – Sixty-four amendments proposed to the Unified Development Ordinance by McHenry County Board members have forced another postponement of its ratification.

The Planning and Development Committee agreed Thursday to ask for a special County Board meeting later this month dedicated solely to acting on the amendments, committee Chairman Joe Gottemoller, R-Crystal Lake, said.

The special meeting had not been scheduled as of Thursday afternoon. But the UDO will not be voted upon at the board's Sept. 16 evening meeting.

The ordinance, which has been under development for more than three years, updates the county’s development-related ordinances, such as those governing zoning, signs and subdivisions, and combines them into one to make the rules easier to read and follow. It only applies to unincorporated areas and does not supersede municipalities with their own development and land-use ordinances.

Board members came up with the proposed amendments after four Committee of the Whole meetings through July and August to review the 300-page, 20-chapter ordinance.

Several proposed changes come from recent resident outcry.

Amendments requested by six County Board members would lessen or outright eliminate proposed restrictions on outdoor storage of boats and other recreational vehicles after opponents, many of whom live near major waterways, came out in force to oppose the idea.

The McHenry County State's Attorney's Office is in the process of reviewing further restrictions on adult entertainment submitted by citizens concerned that the county's current restrictions, which are tighter under the proposed UDO, do not go far enough.

Both groups came out at the behest of County Board member John Hammerand, R-Wonder Lake.

County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill, R-Woodstock, said she wants the UDO to come to a vote before the new County Board is seated in December, following the Nov. 4 election.

What it means

A McHenry County Board vote on the Unified Development Ordinance has been pushed back from Sept. 16, and a special meeting will be scheduled to vote on a number of proposed amendments.